Love on Leave

by Leah McDonnell

  “Ummm. No. He didn’t!” she says, giving Artie the death stare. “Because if he had, there’s no way I would have kept it from you.”

  Artie points. “See! That’s exactly why I didn’t!”

  I laugh. “He clearly knows you pretty damn well now.”

  “Well, you better tell me every last detail!” she demands.

  “It’s a longgggg story. Thankfully, we have all day to catch you up on everything.”

  By ride number five the gang had been brought up to speed on the Jody fiasco and as we wait in the winding line at Splashwater Falls, I give a quick run-through of my unexpected trip south. Purposely leaving out details I want to keep between me and Max. As we wait in the slow-moving line, Max wraps his arms around me from behind, giving me a gentle kiss on the side of my neck.

  “Having fun?” he whispers in my ear.

  I look around at this wonderful group of friends laughing and playing as Max’s strong arms engulf me. “I couldn’t have dreamt of a more perfect day,” I whisper back.

  Splashwater Falls is one of the most popular rides in the park. To avoid walking around in wet clothes, we waited until it was the warmest part of the day to ride it. What we didn’t take into consideration was Lana + water + white t-shirt = Boob’s McGee!

  “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my whole life,” Lana yells over the hand dryer she’s using to dry her shirt.

  I bust out laughing again from a nearby restroom stall. “I about died when that old lady shook her finger at you and said this was a family establishment.”

  Ashley and I make it to the bank of sinks at the same time, still cracking up over the sight of Lana fanning her sopping wet shirt away from her skin.

  “Not to change the subject, because trust me… I could laugh about this one for days. But since we have a few minutes…”

  “Oh my God, yes!” Ashley adds, already knowing what I’m about to say.

  “You’re pretty fearless, but I would have never thought you’d have the balls to drive to Fort Benning by yourself and knock on his door!”

  “Oh, I was scared shitless. I don’t know what came over me. I don’t know if it was the letter or maybe because I’d left you guys and saw how happy you all were. Or maybe it was fate. All I know is one minute I’m in an ugly sweatshirt with day-old makeup and dirty hair, drowning in my sorrows. The next minute, I’m in Max’s arms dancing to The Police at a fancy Columbus restaurant.”

  “Well, this is by far the happiest I’ve seen him since the Fourth of July,” Lana says as the dryer cycle finally comes to an end.

  “This is by far the happiest we’ve seen you since the Fourth of July,” Ashley adds.

  I smile, realizing how right they both are.

  “Since we have a sec… I’ve been dying to ask you this all day. Has he mentioned anything about Davis?” Lana asks.

  I grimace. “No. Well, yes, sort of.”

  “Sort of?” Ash repeats, confused.

  “It’s kind of hard to explain. We sort of grazed the surface of the whole Davis subject. I know at some point we are going to have to have a full-blown conversation about it. But for now, Max wants to enjoy a drama-free weekend.”

  “But didn’t you say Max is going to ride back with Artie and Santos tomorrow?” Lana asks.

  “Yes… It makes the most sense.”

  “Well, there will definitely be some drama then.”

  “Oh, that’s right!” Ashley pipes. “The guys have to pick up Davis at the airport tomorrow.”

  Lana shakes her head. “Those two packed in a car with each other for two hours. Eeesh!” She grimaces. “It’s not going to be pretty.”

  It’s after six in the evening; eighteen rides, twelve carnival games, three giant teddy bears, and one wet t-shirt later, we’ve made our way to the last ride of the day. The most famous coaster in the park… The Great American Scream Machine. It was the first roller coaster I’d ever ridden as a kid and saving it for last had become a bit of a tradition.

  Lana and Artie are in the first row. Followed by Ash and Santos, with Max and me in the third row. We buckle in as the single row bar is locked into position across us. Our heads are jolted back as the cars spring forward. In seconds, we begin the slow climb. The sun is setting, the flashing lights of the rides below sparkle in the evening air. Max grabs my hand and gives it a quick kiss, taking in the view.

  The metal tracks rattle against the wood beams, making a loud clicking sound. Click... Click… Click… silence, as we crest the top.

  Our hands fly in the air, the guys cheering in anticipation. In a split second, we’re falling. Immediately feeling coaster stomach, cheering as we make it down and quickly back up another.

  Commotion coming from the front row grabs my attention. Did their bar come loose? Panic rises, but I calm when I see Lana laugh. Did he throw up? Max notices too and is curious to know what’s going on.

  “I wonder what happened?” he shouts over all the screams.

  We make it to the end of the ride; the cars slowing as we creep back into the station. The coaster noise finally quiet.

  “Get me out!” Artie screams to the pimply kid at the coaster controls. “Hurry the hell up! I… I… I gotta get out of here, NOW!”

  Lana’s still laughing as Artie springs out of the seat the second the safety bar is released. We sit stunned and clueless as he begins slinging his shirt off, screaming, “Ow, Ow, Ow! Shit! Ow!”

  He pulls his pants down as far as they’ll go. Doing a crazy man’s dance the entire time. Lana’s trying to speak, but the words are incoherent. She’s laughing too hard. Tears are rolling off her cheeks as drool literally falls from her mouth. We, along with everyone else in the station stare in bewilderment.

  As if it were in slow motion, a giant red wasp falls from the back of Artie’s bright yellow boxer shorts. Our eyes grow wide and chins drop, as Artie stomps his foot over the paralyzed insect, swearing the entire time. The place erupts in laughter and instantly I regret not bringing my camera. Because the sight of Artie standing there in his skivvies is beyond priceless.

  We make it off the station platform, into a small corner of the ride’s exit. When the breathless, half-naked Artie is finally able to explain the course of events that have unfolded.

  “That son of a bitch flew straight into the side of my head when we made the first big fall. Must have hit so hard it injured himself because he fell between me and the seat. I could feel it, so I leaned forward to let Lana swat it away. But when I moved it somehow managed to fall right into the gap of my jeans. I tried to grab it, but the bar and seatbelt were too tight. The little bastard stung me in my ass crack the entire time!”

  We can’t help but laugh because it was hilarious. But the second he pulls his boxers back to examine the damage, our laughter turns to concern. He has at least seven large stings and they’re all quickly swelling.

  “Holy Shit, Artie! You’re not allergic to wasps are you?” I ask.

  “No. Thank God! Or I would be totally dead right now!” he jokes.

  “Dude! The entire top part of your ass is already double the size it should be. Maybe we need to get you to the ER,” Max says, concerned.

  “It hurts like hell, but I think I’m ok. Maybe we can stop at a drug store and get some ointment or something.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt for you to get some Benadryl in you too,” I add.

  Bruising has set in Artie’s butt and halfway up his back by the time we make it back to the apartment. It looks incredibly painful as he lays on his stomach with a large ice pack perched on his ass. We feel terrible about laughing at his condition, but every few minutes someone cracks a joke, sending everyone into another round of hysterics.

  “Oh yeah! Laugh at the injured guy!” A groggy Artie groans.

  “This is payback for all the raccoon jokes I had to endure over the last two months!” I tease.

  “Y’all leave him alone!” Lane spouts. “My poor baby has a broke tooshy,” she says in her
best baby voice. “Why don’t we get you to bed?”

  “Yes. Now that you’ve managed to wipe all the drool from your chin and the tears from your eyes. You can finally help him,” Ashley teases.

  Lana gives a guilty smile. “I’m sorry… I know it was terrible I was laughing. But it might have been the funniest thing I’ve ever witnessed. He was jumping in his seat like he was bull riding, hollering ‘BA… BA… BA…. Bee!’ over and over again.”

  Laughter fills the room yet again as the defeated Artie drags his sore, swollen, ass to bed. Holding the ice pack in one hand and shooting us the bird with the other.

  “Yet another crazy day with the infamous Alpharetta Girls!” Santos says, cuddling up to Ash on the couch.

  “Yes, it was.” Ashley agrees. “I’m so glad you two were able to be a part of it. It wouldn’t have been the same without y’all.”

  “You mean there would have been no way in hell you could have fully described the whole wasp down the ass crack thing, without actually being there?” Max jokes.

  She laughs. “Exactly!”

  It’s getting late and I can tell Ash and Santos are ready for some alone time. So Max and I take the hint and call it a night. As we walk into my bedroom he begins exploring. Picking up pictures, the art, my CD collection, and lastly my most prized possession…

  “What’s this?” he asks, holding the small open box.

  “It’s my grandmother’s engagement ring. She left it to me when she passed away.”

  “And I’m guessing it’ll be yours too?”

  I nod. “That’s the plan.”

  He reads the small card lining the top out loud…

  “My Dearest Katherine,

  May only a worthy soul and kindred spirit place

  this ring on your deserving hand.

  Love,

  Grandma June”

  “My grandmother was a true romantic. When we were packing her things, we found a box full of old love letters she and my granddad had sent each other while he was overseas fighting. They were the sweetest words two people could ever share.”

  “Y'all must have been close.”

  “Very close,” I admit. “I guess I’ve always imagined having a love like theirs one day. That’s why I keep the box out. It’s a daily reminder true love does actually exist, and they made it look so effortless.”

  Max places the ring box back on the dresser and walks towards me. “It looks like she wasn’t the only true romantic in the family.” Pulling me in for a tight hug.

  “Do you know how awesome you are?” I ask, glancing at his handsome face.

  He smiles and sweeps my hair off my shoulders. There’s something different in his eyes. It’s desire and it sends an instant charge rushing through me. His mouth is on mine, kissing me hard and with so much passion, my legs go weak. He slowly unbuttons my shirt and slides it off one shoulder at a time. He reaches down, placing a soft, gentle kiss on my neck, before moving to my chest. I can feel his breath on me and I am instantly aroused. He unclasped my bra and I instinctively throw my arms over my breasts when I feel it loosen. Uncomfortable with how exposed I am.

  “Max?” I whisper.

  He looks at me with loving eyes. “Yeah?”

  “Every inch of my body is dying to be with you right now. But my heart is telling me the right thing to do is wait. Wait until we have all this Jody stuff officially behind us.”

  I see the look of desire fade, replaced with disappointment. But I can tell he knows I’m right.

  He lets out an exhausted sigh. “You’re probably right. I don’t want any of my past mistakes flooding over onto us. And if it means waiting, that’s what we’ll have to do.”

  We lay in silence, enjoying the simplicity of the moment. It had been the perfect weekend. No words are needed. Max pulls the covers over us and we fall asleep, entangled in each other’s arms.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Halloween Weekend

  The girls have already checked into one of the four rooms we have reserved at the Days Inn, around the corner from the Auburn campus. We’re busy perfecting our costumes as we wait for the guys to roll into town.

  “Last time I talked to Artie, there were two more joining us,” Lana says, rolling up her thigh-high pantyhose.

  “Hell yeah!” Jenn shouts. “That brings the total to nine! It will be like Hot Guy Palooza around here!”

  “So who all’s coming?” I ask.

  “Well, let’s see… of course, there is Artie, Max, and Santos. Jackson and Gigi. Kevin and Palmer. Both of them are bringing dates, and some new guy named Cooper.”

  “Oh, I’ve met Cooper! He’s so sweet. A Yankee, but sweet.”

  “Who the hell said they could bring dates?”

  “For Pete's Sake, Jenn! Don’t be such an asshole! Between the guys we’re bringing and an entire fraternity house, you won’t have any trouble finding someone to love on tonight,” Lana jokes.

  “Soooo… that’s it?” I ask. “No six-five, loud… arrogant… pain the ass to worry about?”

  “Honestly, I have no clue. I invited him, but since the whole blow-up with him and Max, I don’t know.”

  Wrapped in my terrycloth bathrobe, I crawl into the bathroom vanity to put my makeup on. Enjoying the last few minutes of peace before the festivities commence.

  Curiosity still lingering if Davis will show tonight. I can’t help but feel bad. As much as he drives me crazy, I hate the idea of him getting left out. Then again, he’s never had to worry about attention from women, so I’m sure he’ll have no trouble fending for himself. Since the blow-up Max and Davis had on the way home from Atlanta, they’ve been working to mend fences. Staying angry isn’t an option. Especially, since most of the issues were simple misunderstandings. Max took responsibility for everything else. Blaming himself, even though it was ultimately Jody’s fault. He had annulment papers served to the lying bitch two days ago, getting him one step closer to putting this nightmare behind us. I haven’t seen him since our Six Flags weekend and even though we talk every day, my heart aches for him.

  “Well? What do you think?” Lana asks as she straightens the ears of her Playboy bunny costume in the mirror.

  “You look hot! Artie’s going to shit a brick when he sees you.”

  “He better! I didn’t squeeze my ass in this damn thing for nothing.”

  “You two get out here! I have a surprise to tell you!” Ashley yells from outside the bathroom. “Hurry!”

  “Ok! Ok! We’re comin’! Calm your tits!” Lana yells.

  Ashley’s holding a large bottle of champagne in one hand and a stack of clear plastic cups in the other as we make our way back into the room.

  Lana does a shimmy. “Oh, hell yeah!”

  “I wanted to celebrate for a minute with my three best girlfriends before all those icky boys come in and ruin it,” she teases with a tearful smile.

  I hug her neck. “I can’t think of anything more perfect.”

  She pops the top of the cheap champagne, catching the run out with her mouth.

  “Let’s all make a toast!” she says, pouring each of us a glass.

  “If we are going to do this! We’re going to do this right!” Lana says, decidedly. “Get your asses up here!”

  She grabs Ash by the hand and pulls her onto the motel bed. Jenn and I climb up behind, as they hand us our cups.

  “I’ll go first!” Lana says, throwing her cup in the air. “Cheers to having the three greatest friends a girl could ask for and to having a night to remember!”

  We raise our cups and smile, knowing how fortunate we are to have each other.

  Jenn is next. “I know I don’t get to see y’all as much now that I’m all the way in Podunk, Arkansas. So cheers to always knowing I have the most amazing friends to come home to!”

  We wrap our arms around her and hug her tight. “Aww, Jenn! We love you! No matter how far away you are!”

  “Ok, Kate! Your turn!”

  “Oh goodness, my t
urn, huh?” I’m at a loss for words for a few seconds. “Ok…Cheers to always following your heart and believing there is such a thing as happy endings!”

  “Damn straight there is!” Lana yells as we laugh over my ridiculousness.

  Jenn points to Ashley. “And last but not least...”

  Ashley raises her cup in the air. “Here’s to wishing me the best of luck. Since December 15th…I will be moving to Columbus!”

  Our cups tap together as the words compute in our brains. “No freakin’ way!” Lana yells, jumping on the bed. Champagne spilling onto the pillows.

  “Yes, freakin’ yay!” she squeals back. “Since I’m graduating from nursing school at the end of the semester, I had to start looking for jobs. St. Francis Hospital was hiring, so Nicholas and I talked it over. It made the most sense, so I applied.”

  “Oh, Ash! I’m so happy for you. I can’t think of anyone more deserving!” I say, pulling her over for a hug.

  “Are you guys going to live together?” Jenn asks.

  “God, no! We’re nowhere close to being ready for that. Besides my mother would kill me. I rented an apartment about ten minutes away from Post. Giving us a real shot at making a go of this.”

  “So what you’re saying is we now have a place to come crash, instead of those horrible barracks?” Lana teases.

  “Exactly!”

  “By the way,” Jenn says. “I had no clue Santos’s first name was Nicholas until now.”

  “Maybe we should call each other Carpenter, Mathews, Roy, and Holmes to confuse the shit out of them!” Lana jokes.

  “What’s Davis's first name?” Jenn asks, putting the finishing touches to her costume.

  She shrugs. “Ya know? I’ve never thought to ask."

  I’m about to tell them but for whatever reason, stop myself.

  Lana adjusts her cleavage in the mirror. “Well… since we are on the subject of the future,” she begins. “Artie’s taking me home to meet his parents for Christmas!” She turns and squeals as we join in on the exciting news.

  A bang on the hotel door stops us mid-cheer. I look at my watch. “Shit! I have to finish getting dressed!” I shout, running to the bathroom, snatching rollers from my hair.